Manifold assembly



June 26, 1945. J. H. THOlNBERY MANIFOLD ASSEMBLY Fil ed Feb. 1, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l ESMUM JU/m H. T harnb ry IIIHIIIHHHIIIHIIIIIHIIIHIIIIHIIHHII June 26, 1945.

J. H. THORNBERY MANIFOLD AS S EMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 1, 1941 Jahrz fifhambpzj/ Patented June 26, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MANIFOiZfiZEMBLY John H. Thornbery, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Milwaukee Gas Specialty Company, Milwaukee, Wis, a corporation of Wisconsin Application February 1, 1941, Serial No. 376,985 4 Claims. (Cl. 158-115) This invention relates tomanifold assemblies for gas fired furnaces and other appliances of the type quiring pilot lights, and refers particularly to a manifold assembly for use with gas fired floor furnaces.

In installations of this type a main valve which controls the flow of gas to the burner of the furnace and an auxiliary valve which controls gas flow, to the pilot light are mounted side by side.-

an additional part, the elimination of which would further reduce the cost of production and simplify installation.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a novel valve structure whereby one valve is physically supported from the other, and in which the supporting valve is provided with fuel passages to supply the other valve.

Another object of this invention is to so construct the valve units that the means employed for connecting them serves as a; fuel passage to convey fuel from the main source of supply to the supported valve.

Where the furnace is intended to be merely manually controlled, the fuel supply for the pilot light is taken from the main valve through a tapofi' located between the main inlet and the rotatable valve plug so as to be constantly connected with the source of supply; but where it is desirable to provide a room thermostat controlled valve for turning on and shutting off the supply of fuel to the burner, other means must be provided for supplying fuel to the pilot light. 7

To this end it is an object of this invention to provide a novel inlet port arrangement for the pilot light valve whereby fuel may be taken either from the main valve in the manner stated or from a point in the main supply line ahead of the room thermostat controlled valve.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of simple means for shutting ofl one of the two inlet ports of the pilot light valve while the other is being used.

A still further object of this invention resides in the provision of a manifold assembly of the character described which is simple and which lends itself readily to production methods of manufacture.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, thisinvention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate several complete examples of the physical embodiment of the invention constructed in accordance with the best modes so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top view showing part of a furnace burner with the manifold assembly of this invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is across sectional view taken through Figure 1 on the plane of the line 2-2;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through Figure 2 on the plane of the line 3-3;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional detail view taken through Figure 2 on the plane of the line 4-5;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure "1, illustrating the application of this invention to an installation incorporating a. room thermostat controlled valve in the burner supply line; c

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4, illustrating the manner in which the pilot light valve inlet ports are arranged when the unit is used for the installation shown in Figure-5; and

Figure '7 is a view partially in elevation and partiallyin horizontal section through a slightly modified form of the manifold assembly.

Referring now particularly to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals indicate like parts, the numeral 5 designates the burner of 9. gas fired floor furnace or other similar gas appliance to which fuel is conducted from a supply pipe 6 under the control of a main valve indicated generally by the numeral 1.

The valve I constitutes part of a manifold assembly consisting of the main valve 1 and an auxiliary or pilot light valve designated generally by the numeral 8.

The valve 8 controls the flow of fuelfrom the I supply line 6 to a pilot tip 9 located adjacent to the burner so that a pilot flame burning thereat is in position to ignite the gas as it issues from the burner.

The main valve 1 is supported from the structure of the furnace or other appliance represented by the wall l0, by having screws passing through,

' plug 21 of its valve.

tapered rotatable valve plug I3 and the lower P straight portion of the bore I2 is closed by a plug l4.

An inlet port I5 opens to the lower straight portion of the bore I2, and a main outlet port I 6 opens to the upper tapered portion of the bore through a lateral extension II, the outer end of which has a nozzle l8 secured therein to project a jet of gas into the usual mixing chamber I9,

the extreme end of the lateral extension I! being fitted into the front end of the mixing chamber. The rotatable plug I3 has a fuel passage consisting of an upright bore opening to its lower end and a lateral bore positioned to align with 20 the outlet port I6. Hence, in that position of rotation at which the lateral bore aligns with the port I6, communication is established between the inlet port I5 and the outlet port I6.

Rotation is transmitted to the plug I3 from a handle (not shown) located at floor level and connected with the plug through an actuating stem or rod 2 I, the lower end of which has a nonrotary but otherwise freely movable connection with the rotatable plug.

Between the lower end of the plug I3 and the inlet port I5 the side wall of the valve body has valveinasmuch as the electromagnetic valve is in the line ahead of the main valve.

For installations of this type a second inlet port 40 is provided for the pilot light valve. As best shown'in Figure 6, this second inlet port is on the same transverse plane as the needle valve 38 and in a lateral extension 4|. When the previously described inlet port is used the second inlet is closed by a removable plug 42 secured by internal threads M in the bore of the extension 4I providing the second inlet portion 40. For the installation shown in Figure 5 the plug 42 is removed and a nipple 44 inserted in its stead.

This nipple enables the attachment of a supply line 45 tapped into the main supply line ahead of the electromagnetic valve to bypass fuel to the pilot light around themain valve and the elecan auxiliary discharge port or tap-off 22 leading to a tubular lateral extension 23 formed as an integral part of the valve body.

This tubular lateral extension is tapped. to receive a threaded nipple 24 projecting from the body 25 of the auxiliary or pilot light valve unit 8. The body 25 has a tapered bore 26 in which the main valve, the plug is actuated from a handle- (not shown) located at floor level and connected with the plug by means of a stem or rod 28.

A fuel passage 29 drilled into the valve body 25 from the end of the body directly opposite the nipple 24, provides communication from one of two inlets to be hereinafter described, to a single outlet port 30 (see Figure 2) in a lateral branch or extension 25' of the valve body to which a duct tromagnetic valve.

In this case, the needle valve 38 is screwed down tight, as clearly shown in Figure 6, to preclude the flow of fuel to the main burner when the electromagnetic valve is closed.

Inasmuch as the structure of the electromagnetic valve and its control forms no part of this invention, it has been illustrated only diagrammatically.

Another slightly modified embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 7 wherein both inlet ports of the pilot valve unit lie in the same horizontal plane and both are formed by bores a. tapered plug 21 revolves, and as in the case of 40 through extensions 46 f the valve body. As in 3| is connected to carry the fuel to the pilot tip 9. 50

It is, of course, appreciated that the rotatable plug 21 has a crossbore 32 therein to control the passage 29, and that the outerend of the passage 29 is closed by a plug 33.

the structure previously described the single outlet port 30 leads through an extension 25' to which the pilot supply duct 3| is attached.

One of these extensions 46 has threads 46' to enable the same to be threaded into the tapped socket in the extension 23 of the main valve body and the other provides for the attachment of a supply line 41 similar to the line 45.

The inlet port 48 which passes through the extension 43 threaded into the tapped socket of the extension 23 of the main valve body receives As stated, there are two inlet ports for the pilot light valve. One of them consists of a bore 34 in thethreaded nipple 24 so as to receive fuel directly from the tap-01f or auxiliary discharge port 22 in the main valve body. This port is connected with the passage 29 by means of drilled passages 35 and 36.

These latter drilled passages open to a needle valve socket 31 formed in a lateral extension 31. A needle valve 38 is mounted in this extension flow of fuel from the main valve to the pilot light valve. A cap '39 is preferably secured to the extension 31' to cover the outer end of the needle valve.

- with its point entering the socket 31 to adjust the its fuel supply through a passage 48 extending from the main inlet, and when the other inlet port 49' is being used a plug 49. screwed down into the first designated port, closes the same.

This same plug may be used to shut the second latter requirement is of no great consequence.

Fuel is thus free to flow from the main supply into the main valve body beneath its rotary plug, out through the tap-off 22, past the needle valve and through the passage 23 and the crossbore 32 of the plug 21 to the discharge ort 30 to be supplied to the pilot tip 3.-

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be readily apparent that this invention provides a manifold assembly exceptionally well suited for use with floor type gas fired furnaces and that it so simplifies the design of these manifolds as to insure economical production methods of manufacture.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a manifold assembly for gas fired furnaces and appliances having main and pilot burn ers, and wherein the supply of fuel to the main burner is adapted to be controlled either automatically or manually, said furnace having a main control valve mounted thereon to provide for manual control of the supply of fuel to the which the-terminus of one of said inlets is lo-" cated, said threaded nipple providing for attachment of the pilot valve unit to the body of the main valve with said inlet in communication with the tap-off of the main valve so that fuel may pass into the pilot valve unit from the main valve, said nipple obviating the need for separate attachment of the pilot valve unit to the furnace; the other inlet opening to the exterior of the pilot valve unit through a lateral extension of the pilot .valve unit body, said lateral extension providing means for the attachment of an auxiliary fuel supply line to the pilot valve unit for supplying fuel to the pilot light through said other inlet port in the even of automatic main burner control; means for closing one or the other of the inlets depending upon'whether the fuel supply to the main burner is to be manually or automatically controlled; and a needle valve in the pilot valve unit for controlling the flow of fuel through the first designated inlet to the bore of the pilot valve.

2. In a manifold assembly for gas fired furnaces and appliances having main and pilot bumers, and wherein the supply of fuel to the main burner is adapted to be controlled either automatically or manually, said furnace having a main control valve mounted thereon toprovide for manual control of the supply of fuel to the main burner, and the main valve having a tap-off through which fuel is adapted to be delivered to the pilot burner regardless of the position of the main valve: a manually operable pilot valve unit for controlling the supply of fuel to the pilot burner, said pilot valve unit comprising a bored body having two inlets communicating with the bore of the body and each leading to the exterior of the pilot valve body through identical extensions thereon; a valve plug adjustable in the bore of the body said pilot valve unit having a single outlet communicating with the bore of the body and adapted to be connected with or disconnected from said inlets depending upon the position of adjustment of the valve plug;

through said other inlet in the event of automatic main burner control; and means for closing one or the other of the inlets depending upon whether the fuel supply to the main burner is to be manually or automatically controlled, said means comprising a plug detachably insertable into the mouth of either inlet to close the same and prevent the passage of fuel therethrough.

3. In a manifold assembly forgas fired furnaces and appliances having main and ilot burners, and wherein the supply of fuel to the main burner is adapted to be controlled either automatically or manually, said furnace having a main control valve mounted thereon to provide for manual control of the supply of fuel to the main burner, and the main valve having a tap-off through which fuel is adapted to be delivered to the pilot burner regardless of the position of the main valve: a manually operable pilot valve unit for controlling the supply of fuel to the pilot burner, said pilot valve unit comprising a bored body having two inlets communicating with the bore of the body and each leading'to the exterior of the pilot valve body through extensions therea on; a valve plug adjustable in the bore of the body; said pilot valve unit having a single outlet communicating with the bore of the body and adapted to be connected with or disconnected from said inlets depending upon the position of adjustment of the valve plug; means on the extension through which one of said inlets leads providing for attachment of the pilot valve unit to the body of the main valve with said inlet port in communication with the tap-off of the main valve so that fuel may pass into the pilot valve unit from the main valve, said means obviating the need for separate attachment of the pilot valve unit to the furnace; means on the extenmeans on the extension through which one of said inlets leads providing for attachment of the pilot valve unit to the body of the main valve with said inlet port in communication with the tap-ofi of the main valve so that fuel may pass into the pilot valve unit from the main valve, said means obviating the need for separate attachment of the pilot valve unit to the furnace means on the extension through which said other inlet leads providing for the attachment of an auxiliary fuel supply line to the pilot valve unit to enable fuel to be supplied to the pilot light passage of fuel therethrough.

sion through which said other inletleads providing for the attachment of an auxiliary fuel supply line to the pilot valve unit to enable" fuel to be supplied to the pilot light through said other inlet in the event of automatic main burner control; and means for closing one or the other of the inlets depending upon whether the fuel supply to the main burner is to be manually or automatically controlled, said means comprising a plug detachably insertable into the mouth of one of the inlets to close the same and prevent the 4. In a manifold assembly for'gas fired furnaces and appliances having main and pilot burners, and wherein the supply of fuel to the main burner is adapted to be controlled either automatically or manually, said furnace having a main control valve mounted thereon to provide I for manual control of the supply of fuel to the main burner, and the main valve having a tapoff through which fuel is adapted to be delivered to the pilot burner regardless of the position of the main valve: a manually operable pilot valve unit for controlling the supply of fuel to the pilot burner, said pilot valve unit comprising a bored body having two inlets communicating with the bore of the body and each leading to the exterior of the pilot valve body through extensions thereon; a valve plug adjustable in the bore of the body; said pilot valve unit having. asingle outlet communicating with the bore of the body and adapted to be connected with or disconnected in communication with the tap-off of the main valve so that fuel may pass into the pilot valve unit from the main valve, said means obviating the need for separate attachment of the pilot valve unit to the furnace; means on the extension through which said other inlet leads providing for the attachment of an auxiliary fuel supply line to the pilot valve unit to enable fuel to be supplied to the pilot light through said other inlet in the event oi automatic main burner control; and means for closing one or the other of the inlets depending upon whether the fuel supply to the main burner is to be manually or automatically controlled.

JOHN H. THORNBERY. 

